Midnight Marauders

Steve Biko (Stir It Up)

A Tribe Called Quest

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

131

Internal

Multi

213

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Verse 2: Q-Tip]

Huh-huh, here we go, you know that I'm the rebel^✦

Throwing out the wicked^✦ like God did the Devil

Funky^✦ like your grandpa's drawers, don't test me

We in like that, you're dead like Presley

When we coming^✦ through, get tickets to see me

We work for the paper,^✦ so there'll never^✦ be a freebie

Lyrics^✦ are abundant 'cause we got it by the mass (Mass)

Egos are at idle 'cause the music^✦ is the task (Task)

Valenzuela on the pitch, curveball, catch it

I think I got it locked,^✦ just smooth while I latch it

Right (Right), now I must move with the quickness

Here comes^✦ Shaheed, so we must bear the witness

[Bridge: Q-Tip]

Stir it up

Steve Biko^✦

Stir it up

Steve Biko^✦

[Refrain: Phife Dawg]

New York City,^✦ represent,^✦ represent^✦

A Tribe Called^✦ Quest, represent,^✦ represent-sent^✦

The Dawg is scientific with the styles^✦ I invent

A Tribe Called^✦ Quest, represent,^✦ represent-sent^✦

[Verse 3: Phife Dawg & Q-Tip]

MCs like to meddle, but here's^✦ my proposition^✦

I let my lyrics^✦ flow, and juxt' your whole position^✦

I'm radical with this like the man this song is after^✦ (Hahaha)^✦

Yo, Tip, settle down, what's the reason^✦ for the laughter?

I really^✦ can't say, I guess I laugh to keep from crying (Crying)

So much going on, people killing, people dying (Dying)

But I won't dwell on that, I think I'll elevate^✦ my mental

Thanks for these bars on the Biko^✦ instrumental

Yo, I'll take it back, I'm the Indian^✦ giver^✦

MCs take notes^✦ as I stand and deliver (Word)

Percussion^✦ isn't less (Uh), Ds wear the vest (What?)

Why they dodging^✦ bullets? (What?) You should be dodging^✦ Quest (Uh, uh)

Don't get me wrong, violence is not our forté

I just like to rhyme, kick the lyric^✦ skills like Pelé

Tip, educate^✦ 'em, my rhymes^✦ are strictly taboo^✦

Fill 'em with some fantasies and I'll look out like Tattoo^✦ (Okay)^✦

[Verse 4: Q-Tip]

I am recognizing that the voice inside^✦ my head

Is urging^✦ me to be myself, but never^✦ follow^✦ someone else

Because opinions are like voices,^✦ we all have a different kind

So just clean out all of your ears, these are my views and you will find

That we revolutionize over^✦ the kick and the snare

The ghetto^✦ vocalist is on a statewide tear (Tear)

Soon to be the continent and then the freaking globe

There's^✦ room for it all (All) as we mingle at the ball (Ball)

We welcome competition^✦ 'cause it doesn't make one lazy^✦ or worn

We gotta^✦ work hard, you know the damn card (Card)

Try to be the phattest^✦ is the level^✦ that we strive

Try to be the phattest,^✦ also^✦ to stay alive^✦

Technical Breakdown

7.2

Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm6.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control7.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.19

Production

— A Tribe Called Quest

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Q-Tip utilizes a conversational, rhythmic flow that prioritizes internal rhyme density and cultural signifiers over complex, multi-layered wordplay, effectively capturing the cool-headed, jazzy energy characteristic of 1993 Native Tongues output.

8.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

6.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

6.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Assonant internal rhyme clustersRhythmic syncopationDirect cultural referencingCall-and-response vocal layering

Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a loose AABB/AABB structure with high-frequency internal vowel rhyming (e.g., 'rebel'/'Devil', 'test me'/'Presley'), creating a rhythmic 'swing' rather than a rigid multisyllabic barrage.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Egos are at idle 'cause the music is the task"

① The artists are keeping their pride low/passive so as not to distract from the work.② The word 'idle' acts as a mechanical metaphor for the cooling down of the internal combustion engine of ego.

"Valenzuela on the pitch, curveball, catch it"

① A sports metaphor referencing Fernando Valenzuela’s famous pitch style.② A meta-commentary on the listener needing to be agile enough to catch Q-Tip's lyrical cadence.

Impeccable pocket-riding and rhythmic confidence

Cohesive thematic integration of the jazz-rap aesthetic

Effective use of breath and space to heighten delivery impact

Wordplay is largely surface-level and metaphorical rather than structurally dense

Some metaphors (e.g., 'grandpa's drawers') rely more on imagery than linguistic complexity

Steve Biko (Stir It Up)

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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